Summer at CYC: seeing what’s possible
Summer creates space to think about what’s next.
During the school year, young people spend much of their time focused on classes and the routines of everyday life. Summer offers something different. It creates opportunities to explore new places, experience unfamiliar environments, and begin thinking about the future in ways that aren’t always possible during the school year.
This summer, students from CYC Leadership programs, Job Readiness for English Language Learners (JRELL), and Young Adult Work Link (YAWL) traveled through Southern California for a college tour. Some were preparing for their first college applications, while others were already attending community college and planning their next step. Although they arrived with different experiences, the trip brought them together to explore campus life firsthand and learn from one another.
For many participants, it was the first time walking through a university campus rather than seeing it through a website, brochure, or someone else’s story.
Over the course of the four day trip, students visited UCLA, USC, California State University, Fullerton, and Whittier College. They walked through classrooms and residence halls, ate in campus dining halls, attended leadership workshops, and spoke directly with current college students. Those experiences helped answer questions that don’t always come up until you’re standing on campus yourself.
For Vicki, who is currently attending community college with plans to transfer to a four-year university, one visit shifted the way she thought about her future.
“I’ve always wanted to continue my education after community college,” she shared. “But actually being at UCLA made it feel real. It helped me picture myself there and reminded me what I’m working toward.”
The experience didn’t change her goals. It helped her feel more certain about them.
“Now I know what I’m working toward,” she said. “It feels much more achievable.”
For Lily, the trip expanded her understanding of college life beyond the classroom.
“Before the trip, I was mostly thinking about classes and choosing a major,” she reflected. “But seeing the dorms, learning about student organizations, and talking with people on campus helped me realize how much happens outside the classroom. It made me excited about becoming part of that kind of community someday.”
The visit gave students a chance to think about college from a different perspective. Rather than focusing only on where they wanted to study, many found themselves thinking about where they could see themselves building a life over the next few years.
Some of the most meaningful moments happened between campus visits.
High school students preparing for their first college applications traveled alongside transition-age youth already navigating community college and planning their next move. During bus rides, meals, and workshops, conversations flowed naturally. Students exchanged advice, talked through questions, and learned from peers who were experiencing a different stage of the same journey.
For Lily, those conversations stayed with her.
“When I was at community college, I was really focused on my own responsibilities,” she shared. “This experience reminded me how important it is to connect with other people. Hearing everyone’s different goals and experiences made me excited about building that kind of community when I transfer.”
Leadership workshops also gave students opportunities to practice speaking with confidence. One activity challenged participants to introduce themselves through an elevator pitch to professionals and peers they had just met.
“It pushed me outside of my comfort zone,” Lily said. “The more you practice talking with new people, the more confident you become. That’s something I’ll continue using in school and my career.”
“A campus visit gives students something they can’t get from a website or brochure,” shared Liana L., YAWL Program Supervisor. “They start asking different questions because they’re able to picture themselves there.”
That shift became noticeable throughout the trip. Conversations gradually moved away from application requirements and toward questions about campus culture, student life, and where each person could see themselves thriving.
The experience also reinforced that there is no single path to higher education.
Some students are preparing applications this fall. Others are already building toward a transfer. Visiting universities together helped participants better understand the many ways students reach their goals. Hearing directly from current college students, including transfer students, made those pathways feel more tangible.
“The trip isn’t just about comparing colleges,” Lily reflected. “It’s about meeting new people, asking questions, and learning about opportunities you might not have known existed before.”
That captures what experiences like this can make possible.
A college tour won’t answer every question about the future. What it can do is give young people a clearer picture of what comes next and help them approach that future with greater confidence.
“By the end of the trip, students came back with a different perspective,” said Jason T., Program Specialist. “Experiencing a campus in person gives them a much clearer sense of what college could look like. You can see them become more excited about what’s ahead because they’re no longer imagining it from a distance. They’ve experienced it for themselves.”
Sometimes, seeing what’s possible is the first step toward getting there.
This is the second story in our Summer at CYC series, highlighting the experiences shaping young people’s futures throughout the season. Subscribe to our newsletter to follow along as we share more stories from across CYC summer programs.